Milling machine indicating dial



Feb. 25, 1947- L. F. NENNINGER ETAL MILLING MACHINE INDICATING DIAL Filed Dec. 30, 1943 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 VII/IIII/III/l/ M INVENTOR. ZiJrf/PAAF/y/Y/Msfip ffPipA/hss /Y ATTORNEY.

1947. L. F; NENNINGER ET AL 3 MILLING MACHINE INDICA'I'ING DIAL Filed Dec. so, 1943 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

1947- 1.. F. NENNINGER ETAL 2,415,539

I MILLING MACHINE INDICATING DIAL I Filed Dec. so, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 1 1575/2 fif/w/vafp BY flaw/4. figs/'74 ATTORN Y. I

Patented Feb. 25, 1947 MILLING DIACHINE INDICATING DIAL Lester F. Nenninger and Fred A. HasSm n, Ci

ci'nnati, Ohio, assignors. to The Cincinnati Milling Machine. (10., Cincinnati, Ohio, a eorporation of Ohio Application December so, 1943, Serial No. 516.252

This invention relates, to machine tools and is particularly related to improvements in dialindicating mechanism fora milling machine.

It is an object of this invention to improve the convenience of operating and controlling a milling machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a machine tool having a plurality of operating positions, an improved indicating dial mechanism associated with the control devices which may be readily observed by the machine operator While in the same operating position from which he watches the cutting operation being performed on the work piece by the machine.

Another object is to provide a common dial indicating mechanism for a milling machine, actuated by operating control mechanism at the front of the machine and by duplicate operating control mechanism at the rear which may be readily observed by the operator from either of these operating positions'from which he also observes the cutting action of work and tool in the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved feed rate determining mechanism for a milling machine which is suitable and convenient for a multiple controlvposition machine.

An additional object of this invention is to provide anvimproved single feed rate dial mechanism for milling machine which is observable from opposite sides of the machine, but which will indicate the same rate readingsfrom either side and without duplicating parts in the mechanism.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an improved dial indicating mechanism for a milling machine having the feed, box and associated rate change mechanism mounted in the knee and having a dial so positioned on the knee that it may be actuated from the rate change mechanism and operable from a plurality of control stations for the rate chan e mechanism located on opp site sides of the dial indicating mechanism, the dial being readable from either side of the machine to determine the feed rate changes effected. I

Other jects an adva tages of the present invention should be readily apparent by refer-.- ence to the following specification. considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ,forming a part thereof and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made. in the exact structural details there shown and, described. within the scope of the appended cla ms. without departing from or exceeding the spirit Q1 the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which like refer! ence numerals indicate like or similar parts:

Figure 1 is a left side elevation of a knee. and column type milling machine embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary left side elevatio of the knee, saddle, and table of the milling machine shown in Figure 1, as indicated y the line .2- in Fi r 4. c

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the operating and. contr l mechan sm a d. indicat n dial of themillingmachine Qi- Fi ur s. 1 nd Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of the millin machine. on the line 4-4 of Figures 1 and 2k 7 Figure 5 is, a fragmentary section on theline 5 5 of Figures 2, 4, 6, and 7.

Figure 6 is an enlarged face view of the rotating indicating dial shown in Figure 5. I

Figure 7 is an outside view of the indicating window cover for the rotating dial shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the indicating window cover of Figure '7 showing one form of indicating window.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the indicatingwindow cover of Figure 7 showing anther form of indicating window.

As illustrative of a machine tool incorporating the features of this invention, there is illustrated a knee and column type milling machine, Figure 1, having a base I and the usual upright integral column 2 which carries a rotatable cutter spindle 3. A knee 4 is mounted for vertical motion on appropriate guideways 5 formed on the column 2. On top of theknee 4 on appropriate guideways 6 is'slidably mounted the saddle l on top of which on suitable guideways 8 is slidably mounted the work table 9. I

In the operation of such a machine tool of the character of a knee and column type milling machine, the operator controls the machine while standing in the normal operating position at the front of the knee and work table. It is also desirable for the operator to stand in a rear operating position behind the work table and adjac t the left s de o the column in rd r to properlyobserve the cutting action'of the cutter on the work piece. Operating controls are pro vided at the front of the knee for manipulation by the operator when at the front of the machine and a duplicate set of rear operating controls are aeiatee be manipulated by the operator to select desired. ,7

rates of feed movement for the knee, saddle, and table. Also, when the operator is'in the rear ope" crating position designated by. the reference character B, he may manipulate a rear control device or lever I I, appropriately mounted by suitable means Ila on the rear of' the knee 4. These control levers I and I I may be connected to the feed rate control mechanism for the knee, saddle, and.

table, suchas is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein is shown diagrammatically a change feed transbox or change feed transmission I2. These cam drums I3 may be driven from any source of power,

usuallygthe main driving motor or prime mover for the machine, which actuates a power-shaft I5. This shaft I5 may be reversibly connected through the reversing bevel gear mechanism I5,

I1 and I8 and the reversing clutch I9 to a drive,

shaft to which is connected, through gearing 2|, 22, and 23, the gear shifting cam drums l3 for rotation thereof in-"one direction or the other to effect the feed changes. The reversing clutch I9 may be actuated by any suitable shifter yoke 24 carried on a shifterrod 25, one end of which may be connected to the control handle ID at the front of the machine and .the other. end of which may be appropriatelyv connected to thelcontrol,

handleill at the rear of the knee as shown in Figure 3. Thus, manipulation ofreither thelever III or the lever II will cause the desired changes in the feed change transmission, I2 to determine the'rate of operation of the work carrying members 4, 1; and9.

Associated with comprises a rotatablelconical figure dial 21, Figures 5 and 6, which is fixed to a shaft 28, appropriatel journaled in a suitable bearing 29 against this feed change mechanism is 1 an indicating dial designated generally at 2 6 which axial movement in-the knee 4. On the inner end ofthis shaft 28 is fixed a spiral gear 30 which is driven by mating spiral gear 3| carried on a shaft 32 journaled in the knee 4. v The shaft 32,

in turn, has a gear 33driven by agear 34 formed changing cam drums- I3 so that when the cam drums I3 are driven to effect fee-d changes in the transmission I2 the indicating dial 21. will be integral with the driving gear 22 for the feed-.

rotated to appropriate positions to indicate the position to which the feed boxv or change feed transmission I2 has. been adjusted and therefore the rate of operation ofthe knee,. saddle, and table as determined by the control levers I 0 or I I. 'It is to be particularly noted, Figures 1 and 2,

that the indicating dial 26 is located on the left V I side of, the knee l in aposition intermediate of theoperators position A at the front of the mach na and position B at the rear and intermediate :theQcorresponding control levers Ill and I I.. It 1 V 1 can, therefore, beseenthat' by this arrangement the operator, whenstanding in the" front operating position A, may read the dial 26 in the di- 7 rection indicated by the arrow 35 and can direct his attention while in the same position in the general direction 35a to watch the work table 9 and work being machined thereon. It will be further noted that when the operator is in the rear position B he can also observe the dial 26 in the direction indicated by the arrow 36 and can direct his attention in the general direction 36a of the work table 9.

1 In order that the dial 26 may be read from the two different positions A and B, it is provided with a double array of figures, one of which group may be read from the front position A and the second group which may be read from the rear operating position B. This arrangement of fig- .ures is best shown in Figure 6 and comprises a group of figures marked 31 peripherally spaced about the conical surface 21a of the dial 21 in such a way as to be read when the operator stands at position A. A second group of figures 38 is also provided on the surface 21a of the dial 21 but facing in the opposite direction and appropriately offset from the figures 31 so that they may be readily observed and read by the operator when standing in the rear control position B.

Covering the entire dial 21 is the'indicating window'cover 39 fixed by means of a collar 39a and screws 39b to the knee 4 and having a'pair of indicating windows 40. and II formed therein, Figures 7 and 8, which are. elongated so as to respectively expose the figure" indicating'the actual conditions selectedand the selectionsof in I creasing or decreasing feed rates next obtainable by rotation of the dial 21.

Indicating pointers 42 may be provided intermediate the length of each of the indicating windows 40 or 4| so as to more accurately show the exact feed rate being obtained. It may also be desirable to show just the actual reading of the feed being effected in which case the arrangement shown in Figure!) may be utilized in which a relatively small window lla is provided which only exposes one indicating figureat a time. Thus, when the operator stands in the front position A he may observe the various figures as indicated through the indicating window 40 and when standing in the rear position he will observe the figures indicated in the window II, Figure 7. In this way a com mon indicating dial, operable by control devices from a plurality of operating positions at the front and at the rear of the machine, is provided having a plurality of sets of indicating figures for each of the operating positions from which the control devices are actuated bythe operator while watching the indicating dial. The dialis so arranged relative to the operating positions that constant vigilance of the work and cutter during the machining operation 'may be readily had from any operating position of the machine. What is claimed is:

1. In a milling machine, a column, a knee, saddle, and table mounted on said column to effect operable or inoperable, a duplicate rear control lever on said kneev for similarlyeffecting said power feed change mechanism,l and a coimn'on V v .1 -f s changing means and mounted on said knee n; V

'ratei ,indicatin'g, dial driven by,

termediate said control levers, said dial having a projecting conical surface for carrying the rate indications and rendering them observable by the operator from either operating position.

2. In a milling machine, a column, a knee, saddle, and table mounted on said column for relative movement of work and cutter in said machine, power means for making feed changes in said knee, saddle, and table, control means for said power means at a front and rear operating position of the machine comprising a control lever on the front of said knee for rendering said power feed changing mechanism operable or in operable, a duplicate rear control lever on said knee for similarly controlling said power feed change -mechanism, a common indicating dial driven by said power feed changing mechanism having two independent arrays of indicating figures thereon, one group observable by the operator from the front operating position of the machine and the other group facing in the op posite direction observable by the operator when in the rear operating position, said indicating dial being so positioned as to permit the operator when in either of said operating positions of the machine to observe said dial and direct his attention to the cutting action of the work and cutter of the machine.

3. In a milling machine, a column, a cutter spindle mounted in said column, a knee, saddle, and table carried on said column for relative movement of table and cutter spindle, means for actuating said knee, saddle, and table at variable feed rates including a change feed transmission in said knee, power operated means for eiiecting rate changes in said transmission, control means for said power rate changing means comprising means for rendering said power means operative or inoperative, a control lever operably connected to said last-mentioned means located on the front of said knee, a duplicate control lever operably connected to said last-mentioned means positioned on the rear of said knee, a feed rate indicating dial mounted on said knee intermediate of said levers and driven by said power feed changing means, said dial having a frusto-conical surface carrying rate indications thereon for observations from either station by the operator when manipulating either of said control levers.

4. In a milling machine having knee, saddle, and table members, change feed transmission in said knee for actuating said members at various feed rates, power means for making rate changes in said transmission, a control lever on the front of said knee for controlling the operation of said power means, a similar control lever on the rear of said knee, an indicating dial driven from said power means located on said knee intermediate said levers, duplicate series of indicia on said dial, one series observable by the operator when manipulating one of said control levers and the other series observable when manipulating the other lever, said series being disposed in oppositely facing relationship-on said dial, and dual indicating reference points on said knee associated with both of said series of indicia for showing the feed rates selected.

5, In a machine tool member containing a varwith a feed rate dial rotatably mountedj onisaid 1 member and connected for rotation rbyflsaid mechanism, of control levers spaced on opposite sides of said dial for controlling power operation of said mechanism, said dial having portions facing each of said levers, fixed indicators adjacent each portion, said dial having one set of indicia cooperable with one of said indicators and readable from one station and a second set of indicia cooperable with the other indicator and readable from thesecond station, and means blanking out the set of indicia that is unreadable as respects a given station.

6. In a knee and column type milling machine having a variable feed transmission and a power operable rate change mechanism contained in the knee, the combination of control levers mounted in spaced relation on the knee at different machine operating stations for controlling power operation of said mechanism and thereby progressive changes in the rate of said transmission, a single dial mounted on the knee between said levers for rotation by said mechanism and having two sets of similar rate indicia thereon, said sets being oppositely arranged and circumferentially displaced so that one set is readable from one station and the other set is readable from the other station, and both sets give the same readin from each station for a given position of the dial.

7. In a machine tool having a member translatable by a variable feed transmission contained therein and a rate change mechanism for changing the rate of said transmission, the combination with a pair of spaced levers mounted on said member at difierent control stations for selective- 1y controlling operation of said mechanism, of a rate dial intermediately located with respect to said levers and operable by said mechanism, a housing enclosing said dial and having windows annularly and axially spaced therein, and two sets of rate indicia carried by said dial, and so arranged that one set is readable through one window from one station and the other set is readable through the other window from the other station.

8. In a machine tool having a support, a work table traversably mounted on said support, and a variable feed transmission including a power operable rate change mechanism mounted in the support for actuating the table, the combination with a pair of control levers mounted on the support at control stations located on opposite sides of said table, of means operably connecting said levers for controlling power operation of said mechanism, and a common means including a dial driven from said mechanism and located on said support beneath said table and between said levers for indicating progressive changes made in the rate setting of said mechanism caused by operation of a lever, said dial having two sets of rate indicia respectively readable from the different stations whereby the operator may selectively utilize either station for changing the rate of operation and observing the changes as made.

LESTER F. NENNINGER. FRED A. HASSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

